You might do well to try your local used video game store, or Funcoland (if that's still the name of it) chain. If buying a used one isn't an issue. I suppose that the battery would be slightly more worn down, but that won't likely be an issue.Also, try looking in your local sales papers! Best Buy sometimes advertises a deal where you can get discounts on accessories with a GBA SP.Good luck!

Has anyone gone the Game Boy Player route? For me, handheld doesn't hold all that much appeal, and having taken turn on GBA and GBA SP, I can't say I like such a small screen. I've got the 'Cube, so why not? It looks like it can link to other GBA's, so no worries there.

One of the main reasons I want to grab the player is because I feel like I've missed out on something by not playing any of the Pokemon games. Staplegun, you suggested Ruby or Sapphire... If I start playing these games, it will be my sole purpose in life to "Catch 'em all," So I'm wondering which games I should pick up, and which order I should play them in. Am I right in thinking I can transfer my Pokemon from one game into another? Do I need a second GBA for that? (I can get access to one very easily, BTW)

(Also, would any of the connectivity between GBA games work with the GBP instead? I mean, I guess you have to see the GBA screen to interact with something like the Tingle Tuner from Wind Waker, but could I possibly get Metroid Fusion and use the GBP to play the original Metroid the way a GBA would let me?)

I have a GBP, and I've enjoyed the heck out of it. Its nice to see FF Tactics on a big screen like the first one. Heck, its nice to see all my old Gameboy games on a big screen.

It has all the available connectivity as the original GBA (so the e-reader will work with it, etc.), but one point to remember is that the point of the device is to effectively turn your 'cube into a GBA. It comes with a boot disc that it requires to let it know to load from the Player as opposed to loading a game. You can use it for the connectivity with other 'cube games like Wind Waker and Animal Crossing, but you'll need one gamecube/tv for playing the game, and another cube/tv with the player to serve as the GBA (and of course a link cable). I doubt you'd be able to pull off the Metroid trick since you'd need to be running the Player disc and the Metroid disc at the same time.

Ruby and Saphire is the equilvilant to blue/red on the first gam boy, then came yellow. Same as silver/gold on the game boy color, then came crystal. You are not able to capture all the available pokemon on the dueling games, and you do need another gameboy to transfer, but these games are awesome, i thought the pokemon games were dead, but these games bring new life back to the franchise that no one cares for. Pokemon may seem childish, but is a spectacular rpg.

So, for the cheapest route (and the most advanced games), I should buy Yellow, Crystal and either Sapphire or Ruby?

I'll be missing out on a few Pokemon that are exclusive to the Red/Blue Gold/Silver games, but I should be able to trade for those I missed, right? I wonder if I should wait on Sapphire/Ruby until they release the compilation version. I think Yellow and Crystal could hold me over, along with Metroid Fusion and Fire Emblem.

Thanks for the help, guys! I think I'll be going the GBP route and then picking up a GBA if I feel I really need the portability or interactivity. Or I'll convince one of my budies to grab a GBA so we can play some Four Swords... Otherwise I'll be stuck playing GB with my 12-year-old cousin and 5-year-old neice.

Even though WWE 12 was nothing special, it was worlds better than WM XIX for Gamecube, Smackdown vs. Raw 09 with the mode where you had to rest every week and do "photo shoots" all the time, and of course the Raw games for the original XBox....